The Sun Came Out
Hello Everyone,
As predicted the Sun has arrived warming things up considerably. Only the deepest of puddles remain, the rest evaporated in no time. I went for a run and found myself choking on the dust, a surprise as it didn't even seem to be dusty. However, it is always in the air. Today we could see Mt. Jimi (sp. ?). It is the largest mountain around, I can't tell you the elevation, but a road traveling up it is seven km long. I hope to hike it soon, although I don't believe there are any hiking trails, due to the heat people usually opt to drive.
I have to remind myself that this country is only 30 years old and before it there wasn't much here but small villages and sand. The UAE nationals have built these cities in relatively no time at all. One of the royal families vacationed in Al Ain and has given much money to have it landscaped. Al Ain spans a very large area, the center of town is a 15 minute drive from the hospital which is still considered in the main part of town. Perhaps due to having a very large space to work with places were built far from one another creating the need to drive everywhere. And the roads connecting them are beautifully landscaped with a wide center divider with palm trees and grass and roundabouts with elaborate master piece statues in the middle. Hard to describe, but the layout of Al Ain has struck me in its engineering.
A funny story from last night. There is a rec center in the women’s compound, very nice, with a gym and library that I am writing you from. I was on the tread mill running and a woman in her abaya and fully clothed gets on to the one next to me. She was trying to get the technique, but was having a little difficulty. I taught her some tricks and she persevered. "How many calories have you lost" she kept asking me. We had fun running next to one another, me giving pointers and her making me feel welcome. I in my running attire and her in hers. A simple example of how there are many ways of doing the same thing, making friends, and having a goal.
Tomorrow is my first day on the floor.
All the best,
Emily